[Open] I find myself tryna stay by the phone...

[faithfulflame]

Who: faithfulflame & You
When: 6/19-6/23 (Including Robot Event)
Where: Rei's Apartment, TEXT, and various places around Cerealia
What: Minako Aino vanishes and Rei Hino copes.
Rating/Warning: PG 13, for language/mentions of violence and blood

---

6/19: Introspection/Action Closed to Usagi Tsukino

[It'd been some time since Rei had woken up alone, not since before her birthday. Minako had been a steady, warm presence by her side as they'd slept these past months, right up until the previous night. Opening up had come more naturally, as she'd expected it might, with as comfortable as she'd become with the affairs of the heart. It still confused her a tad, but that seemed the sort of thing that was also natural. She loved her partner, loved everything about her, despite how the blonde vexed her so at times. That was just them, and she was so, so grateful for that soft, radiant presence beside her.

A presence that was, as of this morning, gone. At first when Rei woke up, untangling herself from the sheets she figured Minako had just gotten up early but that didn't track. Today was her day off, she'd said she was going to sleep in and if there was one thing Rei could be assured of it was that when it came to sleep Minako was not going to miss a wink. Rising quickly, she cast out her senses, feeling for the bond they shared.

And came up empty.

With a choked cry, she hopped up and looked around desperately for her CEREVice, or any sign that Minako Aino was still there. And again, she came up with nothing. Grabbing her own device, she ripped it open and searched contacts and a certain app, the bottom dropping out of her stomach. She had departed. The CEREVice tumbled to the floor with a clatter as Rei dropped to her knees, heart hammering in her chest as she clutched the fabric of her clothing.

She was gone. Just...just like that, the person she'd finally begun to really and truly let herself be totally open with was gone. Thoughts grew in her head like a wildfire, her entire body shaking as emotions welled up. She closed her eyes, slamming a fist down onto the carpet, a white-hot flash of anger shredding every single ounce of calm she had. Tears fell as she staggered to her feet, shambling over towards a nightstand and coming perilously close to pitching forward into the mirror in her distress. Her whole body creaked and wobbled while she mopped at her face with a handkerchief, the shock of seeing her face enough to trigger a reflexive attempt at maintaining her appearance.

Trembling, unsure of how to even process anything else, she heads out of the room and into the living area. Moments later, unsure of how she even got there, she wilted onto the couch with a mug of tea and sat there, quietly waiting for whoever might wander in. She had to break the news, she absolutely had to, but how to even begin. First Ami...and now...now Minako. Gone, when it'd been just hours before that she'd just fallen asleep next to Rei. Not even a full day ago they were planning to go out, Rei relenting and agreeing to go to a karaoke bar. And now?

Now, she was sitting on the couch in stunned silence. Completely and utterly unable to even sip at her tea.]

6/19: Text Network Post/Open Action

[The CEREVice broadcast is brief, and anyone who knows her will forgive that, she hopes.]

Minako Aino has returned to the Nexus Code. I will be unavailable to meet my social obligations for the next twenty four hours. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you need me for something desperately, I will be at home.

[After that, the message ends. Rei will NOT be answering her CEREVice at all, but visitors are welcome.]

6/21-6/23, Action around Cerealia

[After that 24 hours was over, Rei was again visible within the colony. She avoided any of Minako's haunts, places that might remind her of her partner, and instead stuck to places that were more her space. The trouble was that she had an abomination of a robot following her around, and while Rei bore this indignantly silently, she was clearly put out by the machine. A frown, an uncomfortably straight back, and occasional furious glances at the CERES Headquarters were telling pointers to her discomfort.

Each and every day Rei began with a trip to the gym for a strenuous workout, specifically the sections dedicated to kendo and martial arts. Her wooden shinai slapped against a practice dummy, or her robot's clumsily attempted blocks as she forced a spar. There was little pity in her voice the machine, devoid of a soul as it was, and if it was going to be “familiarizing” itself with her then it should get used to this side of her. The martial arts section of the gym would similarly be filled by the sounds of fists slapping against a punching bag, or the indignant squawks of a robotic Rei hitting the mat hard.

Once noon arrived, and Rei'd worn her knuckles almost to the point of bloodying them, she departed and made straight for the park to meditate. Disturb her at your own risk as she sits out beneath one of the safer trees under Phobos and Deimos's watchful gaze.

And after somewhere between three and six hours of meditation, Rei simply disappeared from the city. But friends that know where to look...or just people who frequently look up or hang out on rooftops. She and her servantbot both are darting from rooftop to rooftop in a head to head parkour style race. Long legs carry her easily, a path she'd run a thousand times. Calling out to her is the best bet, though stepping in her way will get her to stop as well and earn an annoyed glare. Yes, she's pushing herself, and yes she's doing something dangerous, but focus. Getting her mind off of it. That's what's got to happen, and she knows it.]

Wildcard

[As always, wildcard me bro!]

Comments

rooftops

[flimsylies]

[ He's a rather solitary clown, and when the casual crowds of the colony begin to bore him, he excuses himself from it all with a few easy leaps. He's the kind of guy who likes to look down upon the little heads of others, their ant-like minutiae so far below him.

It's not that he doesn't sense Rei coming, merely that he chooses to be an ass and get in her way. ]

[faithfulflame]

[A clown is not something she expected to run into up on the rooftops, no, and lucky for him Rei doesn't run headlong into him. She skitters to a stop with a scowl, since he's interrupted her running start for a particularly tough jump and she knows she'll lack the speed to complete it.]

Is there a reason you're impeding my progress?

[Someone's not entirely sure of what to make of him.]

Closed

[tiarae]

[Initially, when Usagi wakes, she's not sure what prompts her up so early, mumbling some vague annoyance as she stifles a yawn and checks the time. But then she hears something again, hearing something against the floor in the other room, now she's awake and more alert. She's not sure what's happened just yet, but some part of her still frets, can still feel that something isn't right, as Usagi wipes at her own face again with her sleeve before padding over to the door.

And once she opens it, what she sees almost has her freeze in fear over what might have Rei in such a state. Usagi isn't sure if she should try lighten things or simply straight up ask what's wrong, but she's almost instantly approaching, sitting next to the other senshi.]

Rei-chan....?

[faithfulflame]

[And there she is. The one other person in the world who might have the beginnings of an understanding about what's happened. The only other person who'll feel the loss as keenly as Rei herself. The dark haired girl's hand shake a little when Usagi sits, the tea sloshing inside enough to dribble over the lip of the cup. If there was any further clue needed that something is off, it was Rei's total lack of self control.

Her breathing hitches, fighting back a sob, her eyes staring hollowly at the floor]

...It's just us now.

[unpreparer]

[As the park was the closest thing to familiarity he could get without choking after a few hours, Illidan often frequented it. It wasn't uncommon for him to see Rei there as well, so he thought nothing of it at first. After some time, however, something seemed off. She would usually give him some sort of polite acknowledgement, even just in passing.

Perhaps it was nothing but an oversight on her part, or something of the like. Still, he decided to greet her himself instead. His ability to be decent was just a skill pushed aside, rather than forgotten. So he dropped from his perch in one of the larger trees and made his way over to her, dipping his head in greeting.]

Priestess.

[faithfulflame]

[It wasn't that Rei didn't want to greet him, and it wasn't an oversight, it was more that she simply hadn't noticed him. Her mind was scattered, unfocused, and completely unable to pick up on the usual signatures of life, right now.

She does break her meditation though, breath hitching and eyes starting just a bit as she hears him. If there was any clue needed that something was wrong, it was that.]

Illidan. Hello. Forgive me, I didn't sense you.

[And somewhere, deep down, that bothers her. She rises up and bows formally]

It's good to see you.

rooftops

[fingerbanged]

[Hanging out in high places wasn't really Yusuke's sort of thing-- that was more Hiei, compensating for whatever height he lacked-- but right now, it wasn't as if he had a choice. As the week wore on, the more and more unsettling it was to be around his home, constantly followed by his increasingly familiar robot. It was harder and harder to try to outsmart the thing and hide someplace it wouldn't find him... almost as if it knew where Yusuke was going to go before he did.

So it was time to do the unexpected. After all, he's never tried rooftop running before-- maybe it would be a fun way to get his mind off of these things. His bot was nowhere in sight for the time being, and he wasn't about to stick around and wait for it to catch up with him. It wasn't until he made the jump onto the third rooftop that he caught sight of a familiar form, and he pushed himself to go and catch up with her. Maybe she was trying to shake off her stupid robot too?]

Heeeeeey! Was there some sorta roof party or something I missed the memo for? Since you're the last person I'd expect up here!

[faithfulflame]

[The sound of a male voice calling out to her barely slowed her stride, but the strange presence of the boy Yusuke catching up with her did.  Slightly.  She made one final jump and slid to a stop, her poor robot several rooftops behind.  Whirling to face the boy, she half-scowled and half sighed, suddenly much more unsure and unsteady.  She could yell at him, yes, but it was an innocent enough question and she was better than that.  She could ignore him, but that would be the height of rudeness.  Or she could just talk, and that was harmless enough, and accomplished the same end as the running ultimately.  Something to keep her from shaking, something to contain her emotions, and really…he didn’t deserve her ire.  He might catch it anyway, but that was on him.]

No.  You just…[Another sigh, this one more resigned, the breeze catching her hair while she tries to come up with words.  Something’s obviously wrong, her posture a little more awkward, her stance full of wary apprehension, and words just aren’t coming quite so easy today.  She finds herself after that pause though, straightening and pulling on the mask of perfect poise she wears so often.]…I run up here.  It’s less crowded than the streets.  I don’t know why that’s anything particularly strange, since I prefer being away from loud places.

gym

[prosecutory]

[Edgeworth hadn't started his own martial arts routine yet. He had just climbed out of the pool after several morning laps and heard someone working in that section - or rather, heard someone squawk a few times. The voice was familiar - Rei Hino. It made him stop there before actually hitting the showers.

He peers inside, still wearing nothing but a pair of red shorts and a towel draped around his neck. Um, enjoy the view, Rei? Also notable is a scar on his stomach, a relic of how close he had come to death in another world.

But anyway, he takes a few moments to look at the robot - since when did it start resembling its mistress? Was that what happened upon activation? - before shifting his attention to the girl.]

Is...is that your robot, Rei?

[faithfulflame]

[Rei barely noticed Edgeworth beyond a cursory glance as she drove her robotic twin into the mat with a hip throw, her motions precise and fluid.  The aikido maneuver dropped her twin and it lay there stunned, giving the martian time to meet Edgeworth’s gaze.]

It is.  It started changing yesterday morning. 

[Now her eyes do note the scar, flickering along it for a split-second before she diverts her full attention to his face.  Handsome or not, it didn’t much matter to the girl, men barely registered for her anymore.]

It makes a passable dummy.

6/19

[zerotohiro]

[It's not that he needs her for anything. It's not that at all. But it's more the fact that he sees Rei's message and immediately knows what that means, immediately understands how much this probably hurts. It's not the same pain that would come from Ami's disappearance. It's something much, much deeper than that. He's started to understand matters of the heart a little better in Cerealia and how to really be there for people. Though he knows he should respect her wishes and give her space...he's also still quite bad at actually listening.

It's for that reason that he quietly packs up his usual backpack with a few things and leaves work early to head for the older girl's apartment. He's preparing himself for if she turns him away after all, and it's only after a deep breath that he knocks on the door and patiently waits.]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei would be lying if she said she hadn’t expected visitors.  Some part of her loathed the idea, her pride offended that she’d even consider accepting sympathy from other people, but rationally she knew better than to listen to that part.  She may hate herself for it, but she was going to have to accept those looks and platitudes that would be offered.  The same ones she’d shared with other people.  It wasn’t like this was a new thing, but this particular disappearance cut deeply, shearing off another of the small cornerstones that she’d constructed a life atop here in this technological hell.  That it’s Hiro, another of those little keystones, is equal parts good and bad.  She was still a little bit (silently) troubled by Ruby’s disappearance and Hiro’s lack of contact on that front, but some part of her understood that everyone dealt with this in their own way.  The presence of the boy standing outside her door was totally lost on her, though. 

She couldn’t bring herself to get up from where Usagi had left her, though the door opened for him regardless thanks to a pair of black beaks. Phobos and Deimos, even denied their humanoid shapes, managed to make themselves useful and understanding of their mistress, dropped to the floor in front of the boy and bowed before standing aside like two strange avian butlers.

The apartment was as it always was, clean and tidy thanks to Archer, the only breach in the image the frightful mess of Rei’s long hair.  She hadn’t bothered to brush it this morning in her stupor, and it showed.  She looked up bleakly, trying to smile and…not really doing such a great job.]

Hiro…

6/21

[anudora]

[ The message about Rei's loss had been seen by Tyrande, but she kept from visiting then. While they knew each other to some degree they were hardly close enough for her to visit while the young woman might be grieving. Time would be something she would wish for and so it was what she gave her. However, when she saw her in the park meditating she hesitated. Interrupting would be rude, but she could not simply walk away. Her intention was to wait until she saw Rei move but her spirit owl had another idea. The beast moved to the area where Phobos and Deimos were sitting and then circled around Rei ]

Dori'thur. Return. [ Her voice was sharp and commanding but the spirit owl ignored her. ]

[faithfulflame]

[The two crows stir, irritably flapping wings at the owl, silently wishing that they had their human forms to slap away the troublemaker but alas not at the moment. Dori'thur's efforts and Tyrande's command wakes the girl though, her eyes flitting open to see what was going on. Dully, she focuses on the tall woman, and rises to her feet to bow properly.]

Hello, Tyrande. Forgive me, I didn't see you.

[Obviously. Though, that alone should tell just how frazzled she really is.]

Park

[cresthopes]

[For the past few days, Takeru made sure to keep training harder and harder with his weapon. While he seemed to have gotten better, it didn't change how much it hurt. As he managed to get the arrow higher up the trunk, he just kept mumbling to himself when he rubbed his shoulders.

If he known it was going to hurt this much, he probably shouldn't have taken up this weapon at all!]

Takeru, I think you need a break. I think you're going to really hurt your arms

[Patamon was right. His arms did hurt but at the same time, he really gotta keep on trying. He just had to! He didn't have a choice]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei was just leaving the park after her meditation when the sounds of something swinging through the air and Patamon's voice. The concern there was evident and made her stop and follow the sounds. Observing from further away, Rei finally stepped up.]

You do need to stop, Takeru-kun. You're straining your arms too much and you don't have the muscle developed just yet.

Rooftops

[meowbel]

[Look up there in the sky! Is it a bird, is it a plane? No, it's Rei and her amazing servantbot coming to rescue everyone! Except not really.

As Mabel was walking down the streets just munching away whatever she could find, she suddenly heard a few odd noises from up above her. Looking around, there wasn't anything she could see. Was it her imagination playing tricks on her? Perhaps the candy was finally taking a toll? (...Who was she kidding, of course not!)

But just as she was about to look down, that's when she heard it again! And this time, she could see who it was!]

Hey, Rei! What are you doing up there? I didn’t know today was jumping off rooftops day or something!

[faithfulflame]

[Rei almost took a spill at the sound of the voice, but she managed to avoid falling with a well timed hook onto the lip of a building. She grabbed hold and dropped down onto a fire-escape, and then dropped again, and again, until she hit the ground in a crouch a few feet from Mabel.]

I was running. It's a sport I do for exercise now, called Parkour.

[There's a crash, and from not far behind her the sound of the robot hitting pavement. Completely unharmed.]

And I was trying to get away from that irritating thing.

[psycholawgy]

[ she know how it is to lose somebody she cares about. in rei's case, she probably loves minako... so the loss is greater. and in hopes of cheering her up, she brings rei a bouquet of sunflowers, an assorted array of balloons, and some chocolate. ]

Knock knock!

[faithfulflame]

[Probably isn’t quite the word Rei would use. Eternally is more apt. After months of sleeping together, it’s hard to even think of a time she didn’t love Minako Aino. It’s an unfortunate circumstance, really, but the heart wants what the heart wants. As for Athena though, the door opens thanks to Phobos and Deimos having figured out how the mechanical function worked. The crows caw in her direction and then vanish into the apartment.

Neat and tidy, as always, though with a significant change in the couch. Rei’s there, of course, staring bleakly at the girl who’s come in. She looks like a mess, cheeks red and puffy from crying and hair a wild tangle of bedhead. Blankets are piled around her, and in some ways it might be hard to imagine Rei like this, but here she is. An absolute mess.]

Athena…?

gym!

[adornmental]

[Kashuu doesn't really spend any time at the gym anymore, himself - not since building the dojo in the park. But he does stop by occasionally to pick up supplies. Replacement training swords, extra mats, things like that.

He has a bag of them slung over his shoulder when he passes by the area Rei is training in, at which point he stops for a second to observe. He knows better than to interrupt someone when they're in the heat of a bout, though, so it won't be until a brief lull in her training that he'll call out:]

Those things can really take a beating, huh?

[The robots.]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei looks up at the sound of a voice and grabs a towel, mopping sweat off her face. The robot emulates, and earns a glower from her, but that's all for the moment.]

They really can. It's nice enough, having a partner I can really cut loose with.

park

[sortileges]

[ If anything, he didn't want to disturb her before the time she was allowing herself to potentially grieve someone leaving. He doesn't even know the circumstances properly, nor did he truly know how close Rei and Minako were, but giving someone what they asked for only seems polite, doesn't it?

He doesn't say anything when he sees her meditating in the park, just quietly steps over and sits opposite her. She's mentioned the crows before, but other than a glance in their direction in he doesn't do anything else, just sits and tilts his head a bit as he tries to gauge how she actually is coping before he even thinks to ask. It's when he's checking on her that he takes note of her hands. The blood has probably dried by now, but it doesn't mean that it's pleasant to see.

The opposite, actually.

He still doesn't speak, but he has a feeling Rei might be aware he's there already--or at least he's trusting her to not lash out when his hands reach out to gently slide under hers, holding them up to inspect them properly.

His magic when it comes to healing is horribly touch and go. He hasn't managed to get far at all, but he doesn't want to see her suffer like this either. He takes a few deep breaths, hoping that he has the chance to do this, and quietly murmurs: ]

Gestepe hole. Þurhhæle. [ As he's used it before, at least, it doesn't take multiple attempts to do now and Rei's hands should start to heal over albeit slowly.

As long as she lets him, that is. ]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei is largely unaware of his presence, a sign as much as anything of how badly this has affected her, and she gives a small start when she feels hands against hers. Her eyes shoot open and she opens her mouth to shout...

and then stops when she realizes it's him, and doubly so when she feels the magic take hold. A chill that shifts into something warm, a spark of energy against her skin, and the fading of the blisters...]

...Merlin...

[It's all she's able to get out, completely poleaxed by what's just happened.]

[hoasen]

[Vietnam actually visits the gym quite often now after realising that this world requires LOTS OF TRAINING so that you can practically keep up with it. So she's definitely getting stronger.

There was a definite loud sound though, once that Vietnam thought was a lot stronger than usual. It was that of wood against a surface, and when she peers in to look, it was Rei fighting with a shinai against a practice dummy. One that doesn't seem to be keeping up.

She doesn't interrupt yet, and watches.]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei delivers blow after blow to her robotic double, absolutely savage strikes that are both skillful and completely unnecessary. It's almost like, to anyone that knows how to read the signs, she's taking out her frustration on the poor machine.

Eventually, she dips low, sweeping the wooden sword across the knees, and sends the robot tumbling to the floor with a yelp. Which...gives her time to notice the nation standing to one side.]

Vietnam?

Gym

[shroudedinsecrecy]

[Iris heard the younger shrine maiden's workout sessions, and often remained in the background. Not wanting to disturb her. A need for privacy was something she understood all too well. So, while she had been tempted each and every time to say hi...it wasn't until she took note of Rei's sparring partner that she finally stopped in her usual routine long enough to stare.]

[Mouth slightly agape. Eyes wide. It...wasn't her place to comment or criticizes, and yet...]

Did...either of you want some...um...water? Or tea? ...oil?

[That is what robots used, weren't they? She was still...adjusting to the increasing likeness between herself and the machine waiting for her back at her own apartment.]

[faithfulflame]

[Rei swirled her sword in a flashing arc, the light catching the wood as she sheathed it quickly and smoothly. The robot climbed to it's feet and turned to Iris, bowing just like Rei would.]

Water will be fine. I will fetch it for both of us. Would you like anything, Iris-san?

[Surprisingly, Rei didn't seem to object to that, instead just nodding.]

Hello, Iris-san.